We are the Carolina Microfinance Initiative, a campus organization dedicated to the ideals of education through action, self-reliance, and of course, the promotion of microfinance opportunities -on both a local and global scale.

CMI was founded in March 2006, inspired by the profoundly uplifting effect that microfinance has on those trapped in the devastating cycle of poverty. Promoting individual autonomy and self-sufficiency among borrowers is one of the visions central to our efforts, making microfinance an appealing alternative to outright charity. We also believe that action is predicated on education. Therefore, our mission is not only to help the impoverished make informed decisions about their futures, but also to engage the student body of UNC and the larger Chapel Hill community in active learning about their role in extending the benefits of microfinance.